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(March 24, 2026) Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in March focuses on prevention and treatment options. A study involving over 117,000 patients examined risk factors for early-stage colorectal cancer.

Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in March draws global attention to prevention and early detection. It also highlights a trend that is increasingly concerning to physicians: more and more people under the age of 50 are being diagnosed with colorectal cancer. A meta-analysis by the Medical Center – University of Freiburg of international studies involving data from more than 117,000 patients now provides clues as to possible causes. According to the analysis, metabolic disorders such as severe obesity or type 2 diabetes could increase the risk of colorectal cancer at a younger age. The results were published in the European Journal of Epidemiology at the end of January 2026.

Special Clinic for Colorectal Cancer Patients with Obesity

“The rise in colorectal cancer among younger people is a trend we must take very seriously. Our analysis shows that conditions such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and lipid metabolism disorders could be driving this trend,” says study leader PD Dr. Gabriel Seifert, senior physician in the Department of General and Visceral Surgery and director of the Colorectal Cancer Center at the Medical Center – University of Freiburg. “This highlights how important it is to assess risk factors early on,” adds Prof. Dr. Stefan Fichtner-Feigl, Medical Director of the Department of General and Visceral Surgery at the Medical Center – University of Freiburg. “Early treatment of metabolic diseases could help reduce the risk of colorectal cancer. It should therefore also be considered in prevention and therapy from a surgical-oncological perspective.” 

Specifically for colorectal cancer patients with obesity, the Comprehensive Cancer Center Freiburg - CCCF at the Medical Center – University of Freiburg offers a specialized clinic led by Seifert. In this way, colorectal cancer and metabolic diseases such as obesity can be treated holistically and in a coordinated manner—from preoperative preparation through to follow-up care. 

Metabolic Diseases as a Potential Risk Factor

The analysis primarily shows a link between severe obesity and colorectal cancer at a younger age: people with obesity have a roughly 45 percent higher risk of developing colorectal cancer before the age of 50. In particular, being overweight during adolescence or early adulthood has been linked to an increased risk of colorectal cancer in several studies.

Among men aged 20 to 49, there is also a link to type 2 diabetes. In some studies, those affected reached a colorectal cancer risk that is otherwise typically observed in the general population only from around age 50 onward. There is also evidence of a possible influence of elevated blood lipids and high blood pressure—especially when both conditions occur simultaneously.

Prevention and Individualized Treatments

“Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in March serves as a reminder of how important screenings are. Colonoscopy, in particular, can detect and remove precancerous lesions before a tumor even develops,” says Prof. Dr. Robert Thimme, Medical Director of the Department of Medicine II at the Medical Center – University of Freiburg. “At the same time, we are seeing major advances in treatment: thanks to modern molecular analyses, we are increasingly able to tailor therapies to individual patients.”

At the same time, researchers at the Medical Center – University of Freiburg are working on new approaches to improve treatment and follow-up care for colorectal cancer. These include blood tests that can detect traces of tumor DNA in the blood. In the future, they could help detect relapses earlier and better monitor the success of therapies. The effect of structured exercise programs during and after treatment is also being investigated. Regular physical activity could help support recovery and reduce mortality. 

Original title of the study: Early-onset colorectal cancer is associated with metabolic disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Link to the study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41579288/

DOI: 10.1007/s10654-025-01359-x

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